Originally published (in Dutch) at
http://www.progwereld.org/cms/recensies/album/ben-craven-great-terrible-potions/
Translation supplied by Google:
Completely blown away by an unknown band or artist you all. It happens to you as a reviewer often, sometimes twice a year. These are the albums you looking forward to all year, but you never know in advance when your letterbox. The album is an album reviewed here. I’m a happy man.
The Australian-based Ben Craven, a hitherto totally unknown name in the Netherlands, but that will change soon. Frankly, I had my doubts when I first heard of this album. When I saw the (brilliant) cover of Roger Dean saw my first thought was “a clone so yes” and when I discovered the album of a multi-instrumentalist, I had all my concerns. But after two songs I was around and after listening to the album I was a fan.
“Cinematic progressive singer-songwriter music” so designates Ben Craven on his website his own music. I would like to describe themselves as “great old-school progressive rock”. Mind you friends, this is prog rock from the top shelf! This is a 100% solo album, Craven takes all instruments and vocals and the production, mixing and mastering. By listening you shoot soon names like Pink Floyd , Gentle Giant , and Neal Morse ‘s mind.
After the beautiful opener Diabolique is the first part of Nobody Dies Forever immediately a business card. Striking is the pleasant voice of Ben Craven. Towards the end he blows a great guitar and you know that this is just the beginning. Aquamarine is a particularly charming instrumental piece. The beautiful rugs Craven buttons for your spreads are a good basis on which the song on the guitar inkleedt. With this number you will understand that Ben Craven for the term chosen cinea dramatically. This piece would fit nicely as a good film score.
What ever so difficult to imagine is that it is played by a man. You can clearly hear the keys and guitar are his best, but also on bass and on drums, he is truly excellent man. The uptempo Ready To Lose is strongly to the work of Pink Floydthought. The guitar work has a blues-like flavor. The tempo changes are well tuned and make you one surprise after another falls.
No Specific Harm with its more than 10 minutes the longest track on the album. I think it’s one of best songs. It just has everything in it that you expect from a good prog song. Ripping organs, emotional guitar solos, a touch of bombast and great tempo changes.
I was still so full of paragraphs to write about this album, but I think I’ve made my point well. This is a sensation. You may be the album through the website of Ben Craven order, but also through Beyond Rock.
In the CD booklet, he writes “Ben Craven will return”. I’m going to take it personally.
Maarten Goossensen